hinsdale



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. R. HINSDALE.

CONVERTING LADLB.

Patented June 7, 1887 In z ehior.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. R. HINSDALE.

(No Model.)

CONVERTING LADLE.

Patented June 7, 1887.

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|| gnphar, Washington n a (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- W. R. HINSDALE.

' CONVERTING LADLE] 'No. 364,589. Patented June '7, 1887.

n I J llillll I!- N. PEYERS. FhMzrLithugnphur. Waihingln, n, c,

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM It. HINSDALE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CONVERTING-LADLE.

SPECIPICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 364,589, dated June '7, 1887.

Application filed June 19, 1886. Renewed May 13,- 1887. Serial No. 239,164. (No model.)

Bessemer converter or other mechanical and chemical process; and it consists in a means for heating a ladle to a high temperatures-bile in position on the ladle crane, and to malntai n the heat of the metal in a ladle for any desirable time; also, in a particular construction for applying a jet of gas and air above the contents of the ladle; also, in a particular construction for heating the gas and air in their passage to the jet; also, in a particular construction for combining the gas and airyet with a ladlecover pivoted upon the crane adjacent to the ladle, so that the cover may be raised when desired for filling the ladle or for repairing its lining and that of the cover.

In the early practice of the Bessemer process for making steel the average number of heats blown per day was less than twenty to each converter. The operations were carried on with a deliberation which would be altogether unsatisfactory in any works of the present time, as the average number of heats have been more than doubled, and a correspondingly-hurried manipulation of the metal through the ladle has resulted. The causeof this acceleration is that the operators are paid by the ton, and manufacturers are generally not averse to seeing as large a product as practicable from the plant, and thus the quantity of the output is increased at the expense of quality. The cause of this deterioration in quality is wellunderstood and hes 1n the fact that the metal is not held long enough at a sufficiently-high temperature after the ferromanganese or spiegel has been lntroduced, for the chemical reactions desired to become complete. The metal cannot be held in the vessel a sufficient length of time if the present rate of production is maintained, and it cannot be held in the present style of ladle at the high temperature required without means for maintaining such temperature.

By my invention the ladle may be heated to the desired temperature before the metal is poured hll6]6lll,'&ll(l the metal may afterward be maintained at any required temperature for any desirable time to permit the chemical reactions to be completed. By my improvement the ladle is kept at a temperature of the molten metal until the latter is wholly discharged therefrom, and sculling is thus prevented, and the lining therefore requires only such repair as is necessitated by the actual wasting of its surface, and its durability is thus very greatly enhanced.

My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a hydraulic crane sustaining a ladle provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the ladle, its cover, and its burnerfixtures on line 00 x in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom viewof the nozzle of the burner shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a nozzle .burner fixtures on line y y in Fig. 7; and Fig.

7-is a plan of the coverand burner-fixtures, partly in section, onlinez z in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1 Ais the post of the hydraulic crane, to be raised and lowered by waterpressure in the usual manner, and having a movable jib, B, movable radially between .rollers O O, which are sustained by the post A. The outer end of the jib is provided with bearings D, to which are fitted the trunnions E of the ladle F. The ladle is provided with a cover, G, having a burner operating through its upper side to direct a flame downward upon its contents. The burner is supplied with gas and air, respectively, through pipes H and I, which extend from the cover to a hollow axle, J J, mounted upon bearings .on the bracket 70, which are affixed to the jib in the rear of the ladle.

The axle is provided with a worm-wheel, 7c, and a worm, j, is provided to rotate the worm-wheel at pleasure to lift the cover from the ladle, the pipes H and I serving to cont to adjust it.

nect the cover and hollow axle rigidly together. The hollow axle is provided with two partitions, h, affixed between the points where the pipes II and I are inserted in the axle, and the opposite ends of the axle are provided with stufflug-boxes L, into which the air and gas supply pipes L and M are respectively fitted.

The space between the partitions 71. is provided with one or more vent-holes to permit the atmosphere to circulate therein, and to thus prevent absolutely any communication between the contents of the gas and air pipes within the axle.

As shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7, the burner consists in a central vertical gas-pipe, a, surrounded by a larger pipe, I), forming an annular space, through which the air is conducted.

The air-pipe b is provided with a tapering nozzle, 1), and the gas-pipe a is provided with a similar nozzle, a, which is made adjustable within the nozzle 1) by a longitudinal movement of the pipe a. Such movement is effected by threading the top of the pipe a and rotating thereon a threaded socket, c, which is prevented from longitudinal movement by suitable shoulders, and is provided with a stem, d, which projects outside of the fixture, so as to be operated by a wrench or turrrkey.

The cover is shown formed of east-iron with a central aperture, N, to admit the flame, and is provided at opposite sides of the pipe I) with two clamp-bearings. it, formed in the cover to admit the pipes H and I, which con duct the gas and air separately through two elbows to two vertical pipes, H and I. These latter pipes have fitted upon their upper ends a cap or casting, O, which sustains the pipe I) in a pendent position in the center of the opening N, and which is provided with two chambers, a and N, which connect the pipes H and 1, respectively, with the pipes aand b.

The socket c is connected with its stem (1 by three radial arms, 0, to permit the entrance of the gas to the top of the pipe a.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the gas-nozzle is made of annular form by securing a conical plug in the center of the pipe, by means of webs e, and the nozzle for the air-pipe b is of circular form, as shown at b in Fig. 5.

In the plan in Fig. 3 the nozzles a and I) are shown of fiat or oblong form, and consist of castings secured within the lowerends of the pipes a and b, the exterior-of the inner nozzle, a,being fitted to grooves 7a in the opposite ends of the nozzle 1), which prevents the pipe to from turning when the screwed socket c is rotated The cover is formed with an oval seat surrounding the pipes I), H, and 1, to sustain a chimney, P, which is secured thereto and projects nearly to the tops of the said pipes.

The aperture N opens into the bottom of said chimney, and the waste gases,having no other exit from the ladle, therefore pass outward in contact with the said pipes and operate effectively to heat the air in the annular passage around the gas-pipe a. Such waste gases after combustion have a temperature over 2,000 Fahrenheit, and as the pipe I) is suspended within the center of the aperture N, and the latter is contracted so as to confine the gases closely around it in their exit, it is obvious that the air in the annular passage must be highly heated before its mixture with the gas, and that the resulting flame must be correspondingly increased in its temperature.

The cover G is shown provided with a firebrick lining, G, which would be made in sections and shaped to fit around the pipes b, H, and I.

The bricks are held in place by a packing of ganister, G", rammed in between the outer edges of the same, and a flange, g, formed around the lower edge ofthe cover. Such firebricksare constructed to form the central aperture, N, and the whole interior of the chimney is lined with ganister, held in place by pins which are projected from its inner sides for such purpose.

It will be noticed that in all the different constructions for the burner its nozzle does not project through the aperture in the cover within the ladle, and is thus more or less proteeted from the great heat within the latter.

The packing G may be so applied as to fit closely against the lining of the ladle, (shown at F in Fig. 2,) and the lining of the chimney is also fitted closely to the tops of the bricks G, so that the entire interior of the structure is properly protected from the heat.

A notch, Z, is formed in the cover to admit the spindle m of the stopper n, which latter would be operated by asliding lever fitted upon the ladle in the usual manner, and are not, therefore, fully shown herein.

To protect the outer side of the nozzle 1), as in Fig. 4, from the hot gases passing upward around the same, the bricks G may be extended to the sides of such pipe and apertures 9 left between them for the passage of the gases, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Such method of protecting the nozzle may be applied to the burner whatever may be the specific form of the latter.

Where the pipe a passes movabl y through the casting in the cap 0 there is a liability of leakage to or from the annular space inside the pipe I), and to prevent any intermingling of the gas and air in such space Iformaehannel, r, in the casting around the pipe below the socket c, and vent such channel to the atmosphere by lateral apertures r. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 7.) By this construction the penetration of the air into the pipe H or of the gases into the pipe I and the liability of explosion from an intermingling of the gas and air is entirely prevented.

I do notlimit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of the gas and air- I 30 constructions heretofore used.

gas and air to the pipes a and b, may therefore be varied without departing from the essential feature of the construction the arrangement of the air-pipe about the gas-pipe and the discharge of the waste gases around such airpipe to heat the air on its passage to the burner.

The pipes H and I are of course exposed to the heat from such gases, which fill the entire interior of the chimney P; but the flow of the cooler air and gas through such pipes protects them from injury, and any parts which are unduly exposed to the heat are readily protected by coating them with fire-clay, as shown at b in Fig. 6. Such coating may be secured thereon--as to the chimney-walls-by projections properly disposed to retain the coating.

It is obviously immaterial whether the chi mney and burner be applied to the cover at the center or not.

I am aware that a ladle havinga cover provided with a burner projecting into such ladle through an aperture in its center has heretofore been pivoted to the top of the ladle; but I am not aware that such a top has ever been pivoted directly to the crane which supports the ladle and entirely independent of the latter, as in my invention.

It is obvious that by pivoting the cover directly to the crane, as in iny construction, the same may be lifted entirely out of contact with the ladle, thus rendering it much more easy to' fill and more accessible for repairs. than the I therefore disclaim the former construction, limiting myself to that claimed herein.

Having thus set forth the nature and operation of my invention, what I claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

. 1 The combination, with a bottom-pour ladle and means for sustaining it upon aladlecrane, of a cover pivoted upon the crane and provided with a gas-burner operating through the cover, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a converter-ladle and means for sustaining it upon a ladle-crane, of a cover pivoted upon the crane, an aperture through the top of the cover, a gas-pipe sustained in such aperture, an annular air-passage about such gas-pipe, and connections for supplying gas and air, respectively, to such gas-pipe and annular passage, substantially as T set forth.

3. The combination, with a converter-ladle and means for sustaining it upon a ladlecrane, of a cover pivoted upon the crane, an aperture through the top of the cover, a gas-pipe sustained in such aperture, an airpipe surrounding such gas-pipe and forming an annular air-passage, connections for supplying gas and air, respectively, to such gaspipe and air-passage, and a chimney around said air-pipe for heating the air supply by the contact of the waste gases, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination, with an aperture in a ladle-cover,of a gas'pipe surrounded by an airpipe, forming an annular air-passage, gas and air connections for supplying gas and air, re-

spectively, to such pipe and passage, a stationary nozzle upon the annular air-pipe, a nozzle upon the gas-pipe for delivering the gas within the air'nozzle, and a chimney surrounding the annular air-pipe to discharge the heated waste gases in contact therewith, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with aladle-cover having an aperture through its top, of gas and air elbows adjacent to the aperture, gas or air supply pipes projected upward from said elbows, a cap upon the top of said pipes, a central gas-pipe connected with said cap, an airpipe outside the same to form an annular airpassage, chambers in the cap connecting the gassupply with the central gas-pipe and the air-supply with the annular air-passage, a nozzle upon the annular air passage and a nozzle upon the gas-pipe inserted within the same, andmeans for adjusting the relation of the nozzles to one another, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLTAM R. HINSDALE.

Witnesses:

'Trros. S. CRANE,

HENRY J. MILLER. 

